restoration checklist?

[drews409]

Hello everyone,
i was thinkig about trying to work on some sort of restoration file checklist. Im doing a frame off restoration of my 61 Belair and woundered if anyone has thought of this? Is thier somewhere this can be bought? It would be sort of a checklist of all items, grouped by subject. Example engine, drivetrain ,chassis, body, interior etc. This might help someone from buying 2 or 3 of the same items. Just a thought. Drew.

[bobs409]

Drew,

I think your idea has promise. While doing a frame off resto, everything gets either polished, rebuilt, repaired or replaced, a checklist or perhaps a list of "recommended" areas of where to start and what order to do things would be helpful.

I've been toying with the idea of putting special forms on this site that can be printed. That idea combined with yours might include some type of form one could fill out with what parts are needed, and what parts have already been purchased, costs, etc. Or even cooler, some type of computer program to keep track of these things! Hmmmm....

This whole thing could get really big as a proper resto has a whole slew of details but it is something to think about...


Bob

[rwagon57]

I think this is a great idea, but what I really need is list to help me remember where I stored the parts I took off 2 moves ago:confused:

[Tom Kochtanek]

I know how you feel about keeping track of things. I currently have no less than four (4) cars apart right now. Three are for eventual restoration, one for parts. I have two others that are 100% complete that I use for parts and for "comparison" (when I get stuck and need a 3 dimensional reference :) ). Here's how I keep track of things...

The Assembly Manual for your particular auto can really help in identifiyng those parts by drivetrain, chassis, etc. When I dismantle things I take lots of pictures and keep the small stuff in labelled plastic bags. Lots of bags !!! I use boxes for the larger stuff, clustered by obvious application (bumper frame parts, and so forth). I keep all these open boxes on newly established shelving in the basement. I have several rooms dedicated to specific autos. All the boxes and bags of stuff are in that same room (if possible).

I kinda wing it when I'm asked for a pice, looking through a series of boxes before finding the object. Just yesterday my paint guy asked for the fender bolts that need to be painted white (color of the car) and I found them in minutes. One box just has bags of bolts and small items.

But you might be looking for a source that offers a sequence of taking things apart and assembling things and that might be supported by the Assembly Instruction Manual and the Passenger Car Shop Manual.

I also take some video of the more complex parts that I know I will want to remember later when I re-assemble things. Did this with the front firewall so I knew where all the pieces go :)

Hope this helps. Photographic memory would be nice as well :)

Cheers,
TomK

[dq409]

GULLLIE Tom !! that is impressive !!!
Follow Toms lead !!

I might add that when you do get ready and do as Tom has outlined,,,, any parts you buy should be bought in order of the resto.

I have a friend that is doing a mild resto on a Nova and has made this mistake even with my warning.
he bought all of the parts for his engine ,and trans but also ordered new bumpers, grill and other body parts that could have been bought after it was driveable.They all were useable.
Now he is out of money for a while and his car sits because he has shiny new bumpers but no rear end !!

I`ll admit that I`ve never done a complete resto but this is good advice,,,dq